By Ed Kensik
The Kearny High School boys and girls soccer teams would like to play like it was 2023. In that season both the Kards soccer squads won their respective Hudson County Tournament (HCT)championships. In 2025 the Kearny girls team finished with a 9-7-3 overall record and reached the HCT semifinals (falling to Bayonne, 2-1) and made it to the North 1 Group quarterfinals (dropping to Ridgewood, 2-1). On the Kards boys soccer side Kearny finished with a 15-6-1 overall record, reached the HCT semifinals (3-2 to St. Peter’s Prep) and made it to the North 1 Group 4 quarterfinals (2-0 loss to Montclair).
Boys Soccer
Like in every season the Kearny High School boys soccer team is aiming to attain championships in the triple crown, the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League (HCIAL) American Division, the Hudson County Tournament championship and some form of state championship.
“The goals never change in the program,” said Kearny boys head soccer coach Scott Millar. “We will be looking to compete and challenge for every trophy available. For us that means we set out to compete for the league title, put ourselves in a good position to get back to the (Red Bulls) arena for the county final, and challenge for the sectional title.”
Last season the Kards boys finished with a 15-6-1 record and lost a tough 3-2 decision to St. Peter’s Prep in the Hudson County Tournament semifinal contest. St. Peter’s Prep would go on to win the county championship. For this season’s county tournament, there is no doubt St. Peter’s Prep and rival Harrison for Kearny to climb over to get to a final.
“On the county level nearly every team can win on any given day,” Millar added. “They are all well-coached and have some fantastic players. Harrison looks very strong as always and all teams in the HCIAL American can go on a run and win the title.”
And there is also the state tournament challenge with one of the toughest sections, North 1 Group 4, in the state. “Traditional powers Montclair, Clifton, Passaic, and group IV Champion West Orange will certainly present themselves as the teams to beat, but we like our group going up against anyone at this moment,” pointed out Millar.
Heading into his third season, Millar points to the team’s depth, size and strength on the pitch that will go a long way to help in attaining the 2026 goals.
“One of the biggest strengths that has appeared early on is the number of players that can contribute at the varsity level,” said Millar. “There has been significant progress from some of our younger players in the program and the healthy competition for playing time will continue to raise the level of everyone. We are also fortunate to have some exceptional size and strength in key parts of the field and I don’t know that many will be able to match that strength and speed. And as has been a staple of many Kearny teams, we have some players that are extremely gifted with the ball at their feet, unlocking opportunities and creating chances with great attacking flair.”
One of the biggest holes to fill this season is graduated senior Benji Silva who led the 2025 team with 15 goals and was named the top midfielder in the HCIAL. Also, needed to replace is grad senior Dylan Ribeiro who was very good in the back. Both were named to the HCIAL first team along with senior Colin McKenna were named to the All HCIAL first team.
The 2026 will have leadership with McKenna, senior Lucas Vazquez, senior Joao Moura, and senior Marques Nix
McKenna is the top scorer returning this season after depositing 9 goals and adding five assists in 2025. “He reads the game exceptionally well and has a knack for putting himself in dangerous areas to gain great service from his teammates and create his own chances or provide for others,” said Millar. “He has great technical ability and can finish with the best of them, from in and around the box as well as from distance.”
This season’s Kards team has its most experience up front. Along with McKenna there is senior Rayan Zaouia who was a starter last season and Moura who was a full-time starter when he was a sophomore. In addition, seeing time at forward includes sophomore Hamza Etoukial, junior Jose Hernandez, junior Jeremiah Huff and senior Daniel Garcia.
Like the graduation of Silva and Ribeiro, there was also the graduation of a key spot on the pitch in goal with Caleb Baptista who had six saves per game and contributed to the Kards registering eight clean sheets in 2025. The two players battling for time in the nets are senior Gabe Wahby and junior Kolton Gryckiewicz who will fill the shoes for Baptista. “Baptista was an outstanding all-around athlete and it will be a challenge to replace him, but these two players have shown great confidence and ability and we expect both of them to play a significant role this season,” said Millar.
In front of the new keeper will be also be a mainly new group. The lone returning starter on defense is Marques Nix. Senior Lucas Vazquez, who registered 10 goals in 2024, was a full-time starter in as a sophomore in the back. The other two starters in the back are expected to be juniors, Isac Leiro and Antuan Bazan.
Leading the way in the midfield is returning starter, junior Lucas Ramirez. Other players who will see time in the midfield includes junior Philip Dudek, sophomore Matheus DaSilva, junior James Mara, senior Michael Szymanski and junior Pierre Bolanos.
Girls Soccer
The Kearny High School girls soccer team is trying to get back to the top of Hudson County soccer.
Until the past two seasons, the Kards have been the dominant team within the county and that’s not saying it lightly. Kearny had won 15 straight county championships until the 2024 Hudson County Tournament (HCT).
But for Kearny High School girls head coach Michael Sylvia the targets are more than just the county tournament. It’s the entire season in a package with the tradition of the Kearny soccer.
“The goals this season are the same as they always are for us, to put players in competitive situations so they can develop the skills to deal with adversity both on the field and in life,” said Sylvia.
He added that the tough schedule that Kearny girls soccer has every season just helps the players on the pitch and outside of the game.
“We believe that adversity really helps players become better athletes and better people,” he said. “We don’t shy away from it. We want to get out there, play and challenge ourselves. Championships are a byproduct of that they are a mix between skill, hard work and culture. We want to tick those boxes.”
Coming into this season, Kearny lost several seniors from the 2025 team that went 9-7-3, but last season’s Kards did have several freshmen and sophomores that saw time on the pitch.
“We did lose 13 seniors last year, but we also had freshmen and sophomores that played significant minutes,” he added. “We are excited to see what they can do with another season under their belt.”
The Kearny schedule is filled with tough games including Immaculata, Bayonne, Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Livingston. Bayonne has won the last two HCT.
Sylvia said that the plus for his team is that players versatile and can pretty much play anywhere on the field. “Our strengths will be how well rounded we are,” added the Kearny girls head coach. “We teach the game in Kearny and we want to play soccer. We want everyone to develop so they can approach the game, not as specialists but soccer players. Players will rotate from defending positions to attacking positions based on our personnel, game plan and the opponent we play.”
There will be a little chip on the shoulder for the Kards when they travel to Bayonne on Sept. 24. Kearny dropped a 2-1 decision in double overtime to the Bees in the Hudson County semifinals last season. B One of the biggest areas to fill because of the loss of the graduated seniors is the scoring. Kearny graduated two of their top scorers in Keala Cicchino (14 goals) and Sabrina Varela (8 goals). Sophomore Gianna Covello returns after collecting nine goals.
But the Kearny girls head coach knows that with some players leaving, the younger players pick up the slack. “The great part about high school sports is that when you graduate players younger players step up,” said Sylvia. “Senior Melissa Mota is emerging as a strong candidate to lead the attack and Gianna Covello provides that versatility. She (Covello) has the ability to play any position through the spine of the team, center back, center midfield or center forward and she will play all three this season. We want to put players in places where they can affect the game.”
Along with Covello, Kearny had another super freshman in ’25 who is a sophomore now in Alyssa Badia who added six goals and two assists last season. The Kearny head coach said both Covello and Badia can be moved around in the pitch.
“Alyssa’s speed helps us both on the back line, but also on the forward line when we need a spark,” said Sylvia. “This only works because the team’s versatility allows us to move other players onto the back line to account for our strategic repositioning.”
One area that returns this season is in goal with senior Casey Brown who averaged about seven saves per match in 2025 and is cool as a cucumber in the nets.
“Casey’s calm but competitive demeanor allows us to bend without breaking,” said Sylvia. “She doesn’t get rattled easily and it’s a real asset in big moments. She also has solid distribution with her feet so she helps both in possession and out of possession. She can make saves look easy that many people would have serious trouble with. Which is why she is one of our captains this season.”
In goal behind Brown, the Kards have backup in sophomore Sam Ribeiro.
And on defense in front of Brown, there are is a rotation of junior Rachel Kelly, Badia and Covello at center back. On the left back there is sophomore Tati Terrones and freshman Hannah Paris while on the right back there is junior Cam Flaccavento and junior Bree Rocco.
In the middle Amarie Campos and Marie Villegas will be the starters. The group of Covello, junior Casey Logue and junior Rachel Kelly will be part of a rotation.
In the front area, freshman Abigail Mejia will be the starter in formations with just one forward. With two forwards Melissa Mota will join Meija. Covello and Badia will also time up front.
Kearny High School girls soccer schedule
(Matches at 4:30 p.m. unless noted)
Sept. 10 at McNair
Sept. 17 Union City
Sept. 21 at Immaculata
Sept. 24 at Bayonne
Sept. 29 at Hoboken, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Oct. 10 Livingston, 10 a.m.
Oct. 13 at Bloomfield, 4 p.m.
Oct. 15 Memorial
Kearny High School Boys Soccer schedule
(Matches at 4:30 p.m. unless noted)
Sept. 3 St. Peter’s 6 p.m.
Sept. 9 at Memorial, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 North Brunswick, 6 p.m.
Sept. 14 Dickinson, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Union City
Sept. 18 Becton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21 North Bergen, 6 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Bayonne
Sept. 26 Nutley, 6 p.m.
Sept. 30 at St. Peter’s, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 Marlboro, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 Memorial
Oct. 12 at Dickinson, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 Union City, 6 p.m.
Oct. 19 at North Bergen
Oct. 26 Bayonne
Oct. 28 Plainfield, 6:30 p.m.
